uptake
Americannoun
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apprehension; understanding or comprehension; mental grasp.
quick on the uptake.
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an act or instance of taking up; a lifting.
the uptake of fertilizer by machines.
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Also called take-up. Machinery. a pipe or passage leading upward from below, as for conducting smoke or a current of air.
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Physiology. absorption.
noun
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a pipe, shaft, etc, that is used to convey smoke or gases, esp one that connects a furnace to a chimney
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mining another term for upcast
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taking up or lifting up
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the act of accepting or taking up something on offer or available
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informal quick to understand or learn
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informal slow to understand or learn
Etymology
Origin of uptake
Vocabulary lists containing uptake
The Water Cycle - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"In contrast, the limited absorption and slower uptake of Rybelsus probably explain the absence of a detectable signal," the researchers wrote.
From Science Daily • May 23, 2026
The once-daily Wegovy pill launched in the U.S. in early January and has seen strong uptake among Americans, with executives announcing earlier this month that over 1 million patients are taking the drug.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
So, a petition calling for a review of one its highest uptake subjects is at best difficult timing for the new body.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
Taking creatine with carbohydrates may improve uptake by increasing insulin related transport.
From Science Daily • May 4, 2026
“Quick on the uptake, man. I always say that about you.”
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
